LITMIR.BIZ

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happen between us.”

      Her skin grew cold with worry he couldn’t imagine. Again, she shook her head and withdrew another step.

      “Come now. Remove your robe.”

      “I cannot.” Her mind raced for a reason he might accept and found one. “I refuse to allow you to see what the Moors did to me.”

      His expression remained neutral as he closed the distance between them and gently cupped her face. “I will avenge what those savages did. What happened will never change what transpires between us.”

      She lowered her gaze at his kind words and loving touch, his thumb stroking her cheek. “You say as much now.”

      “And for all time. We must bathe and resume our journey. Stop fighting me. You will never win.”

      She fought tears. When he brought back his hands, she bowed her head.

      He eased the robe from her carefully and tossed it aside.

      The heated breeze caressed her nipples that tightened in response. As Fernando stepped back to regard her, her cheeks flushed in shame yet she made her voice proud. “Your gaze lingers. I forbid it.”

      He regarded her before studying her mound, the flesh as smooth as a child’s. The Moorish culture considered it sinful for a woman to have body hair. Her captors had removed hers in preparation for the sale.

      Fernando dropped to one knee and pressed his lips to her naked flesh. “This changes nothing.”

      Tears blurred her vision. His tender kiss, him kneeling to her changed everything. No man, not even her papá, had shown Isabella such honor. In the world she lived in, females were less than males. Fernando seemed to consider her his equal, worthy of his respect. If she hadn’t already cherished him for rescuing her, she would have adored him for this moment. She rested her fingertips on his cheek. His skin was bristly and hot.

      He lifted his face and smiled.

      Tears welled in her eyes.

      His smile faded. “What is it? Tell me.”

      “I should have stopped my captors.” She had to clear her throat to continue. “After they killed my servants and were upon me, I might have offered my jewels in ransom, but the notion never crossed my mind. One brute forced me to drink a foul-tasting liquid. I believed his intent was to finish me off so I emptied the cup preferring poison to rape or having my throat slit. Instead, he drugged me. I recall little of what happened afterward. Voices drifted in and out. I have no idea whether they were male, female, or both. Women took off my garments. Then hands were upon…”

      She closed her eyes unable to continue.

      Fernando was already on his feet, pulling her close. “It matters not. It changes nothing.”

      “How can you say such a thing about a coward who failed to resist?”

      “How could you have resisted so many men?”

      “I should have died trying. I was prepared to die at the slave market.”

      “And I spared you such a horrible fate.”

      “I was still marked.”

      He stroked her back. “In time your body will return to its natural state. From this moment forward you have me to see to your safety.”

      She held him more tightly, gratitude and tenderness overwhelming her. “How can you possibly want me?”

      “Only a fool would not, despite how filthy you are.”

      Isabella laughed, surprised she could.

      Fernando lowered his arm to her waist. “Come, a bath will improve your spirits.”

      It would prepare her for their coupling and would compound the lie. She agonized over what to do and suddenly had an answer. “From this moment forward, I shall obey you in every way if you grant me one request first.”

      He studied the area, “Your request must be great to secure so much obedience. Before I agree to such a thing, tell me what it is.”

      “You wait to have me until after we wed.”

      He looked at her. “Wait?”

      It was the only solution. “Please.”

      “Why? Do you doubt you and I will wed?”

      “I doubt my ability to be the woman you deserve.” Nothing she’d said had ever been truer. “Only if our union is sanctioned will I feel free to lie with you.”

      “And quell the rumors of others?”

      Her cheeks burned. She turned away.

      Fernando asked no more. Isabella sensed what he was thinking. She wanted him to wait so no one could say the child wasn’t his…that another man had sired the infant during her abduction or after she arrived in Granada. How she hated duping him, yet she had no other choice.

      “If you want this,” he said, “I grant your request, though only as far as our coupling. All else is mine, starting now.” He led her into the gently flowing stream. “After I wash and pleasure you, I demand you do the same for me.”

      Chapter 3

      Despite his firm speech, Fernando fully expected Isabella to argue with him.

      She was as meek and obedient as she’d promised…as a woman should be with a man. Given his pledge not to have her until their nuptials, Fernando reined in his passion, which wasn’t easy.

      However, she could always change her mind and beg him to lie with her this day. He simply had to persuade her.

      He stroked the curve of her hip, a light and loving touch. Her step paused. Pretending not to notice, he cupped her naked cheek, sighing at how unbearably soft and warm her skin was.

      Color kept rising to her throat and face.

      Taking in the area, Fernando led her deeper into the stream. Now, she fought him, sucking in a breath, lifting one leg then the other, no doubt to stop the water from burning her scraped knees.

      “The pain will pass.” To distract her and to please himself, he kissed her ear, temple, and the side of her mouth, inhaling deeply of her female scent, heated flesh perfumed with the sweetness of the fruit she’d eaten.

      She turned her face to his. Her eyes were puffy from tears and bright with what appeared to be concern as to what would happen between them.

      Only pleasure. He brushed his lips over hers to prove it. Her mouth still trembled. With great gentleness, he skimmed her bottom lip with his tongue then kissed her with more tenderness than he realized he had. She sagged against him, suckling his tongue, moaning faintly. Pleased, he trailed his fingers down her velvety throat causing her to moan even more. Beneath his touch, she yielded and craved. He ended the kiss and eased back.

      Her taut nipples were a dusky rose, the tips long, made for his mouth, the same as the rest of her. Her lush breasts had easily filled his hands, the flare of her hips was so womanly his sac tightened even more. Warning himself to quell his desire, he ran his fingers over the base of her throat and smiled at her prolonged sigh. “The pain has passed, no?”

      Her eyes were glassy, distracted. She took a deep breath before nodding.

      He led her farther into the stream until water lapped her thighs. With his arm around her waist, he pulled her against him, nestling his shaft in the furrow between her plush cheeks. His head buzzed at her softness and warmth, his arousal so intense he could barely force down a swallow or capture a breath. Isabella, on the other hand, stiffened and dug her fingers into his wrist.

      Clearly, she needed more wooing. He pressed his mouth to her neck and suckled, enjoying the faint saltiness of her skin. She eased her grip. With her fear again draining away, he took another quick look, satisfied they were safe, and trickled water over her narrow shoulders. The

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